|
“Four hundred and thirty days ago, a tower sprouted from the earth in Gilliam’s Head, Jonesboro. It emerged like a needle passing through fabric, neatly bisecting an inn on its way to the heavens. When the dust settled, the tower stretched through the clouds, with its innumerable storeys glinting in the sunlight. Needless to say, many people were very puzzled.” “For weeks, people wondered at it: magicians and scientists came and took readings and samples and performed rituals, to no avail; architects boggled at the sheer scale and stability of such an edifice; bards composed epic ballads proposing one likely origin or another. The inn damaged by the emergence - then known as the Phlegmatic Firefly - modified its structure to incorporate the tower, becoming known as the Tower’s Gate Inn and enjoying a huge boost in popularity. Once it became apparent that the tower wasn’t going anywhere, life went about as normal - for a while.” --- “Three hundred and thirty days ago, a door opened in the wall of the tower in the Tower’s Gate Inn, accompanied by trumpetting fanfare and a booming proclamation:”  “WHOSOEVER REACHES THE PINNACLE SHALL BECOME THE LORD OF THE TOWER AND OF THE FIRMAMENT AND OF ALL THE LIGHT TOUCHES” “Seven brave souls entered, whereupon the walls of the first floor turned transparent, allowing the gathered crowds to witness their brutal ends - victims of traps, monsters, and tricks of all variety. Only one managed to escape - bringing with them a flawless ruby the size of an egg. After that, no matter the danger, the lure of the prizes (and the mysterious announcement) drew people in from the world over.” --- “Today, the Tower’s Gate Inn has grown into the town of Tower’s Gate, with the original building having transformed into Tower Stadium - multiple levels of bleachers allow people to watch Topseekers from all over the world put their lives on the line for money or prestige. Nobody has made it to the top - or past the 6th level - but simply surviving the first few floors gives a retreating Topseeker the chance for a better life, whether from their fame or from the miraculous treasures and devices recovered from within. Everyone knows the real prize is getting to the top, and even though 9 out of 10 people bite it on the way up, everyone wants to become…” “THE LORD OF THE TOWER” --- Entranced by the Tower Keeper's speech, you almost miss your cue to start the march towards the Gate. Stepping from the Topseeker commonroom into the light, you are blown away by the thousands of cheering fans - some of whom want you to succeed, many of whom want you to die entertainingly. You take your place in the next entry group as they march towards the gate, basking in the adulation and marvelling at the impossible immensity of the tower. As you approach the gate with only minutes to spare on the clock, the Tower Keeper addresses you for the last time, enumerating on his fingers as he goes: “Alright, we don’t know a lot about the tower, but we do know this:
“There’s nothing in the world that can prepare you for this, so get in there, Topseeker!”
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2014 17:44
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 29, 2024 05:36 |
|
|
So you know your job - get to the top! This’ll be pretty fast and frantic (I hope!), and I fully expect/intend to kill people off frequently, so don’t shy off creating a character - we’ll get to you in due time! The goal of the thread is to get to the top: while the winning character obviously is the best, every character contributes - as people play (and die) you’ll unlock stuff that’ll make the job easier for other characters. So the more characters the better, make as many as you like (though only once your current one has croaked of course) - and don’t worry about being too serious, as long as it’s vaguely fantasy based I’m cool with it. ---  Topseeker Creation Name - What you're called, or how you want people to know you. Race - What people you belong to, and what background you claim. Class - What you think of yourself as being - Fighter, Mystic Witch, Lightning Mage, etc. Health - How much health you have - if it hits zero, you die. Roll a d6 3 times - add the total to your base 10 health to get your total Armor - How tough or good at dodging you are. Roll a d6 - add that to your base 10 armor to get your total Accuracy - How good at hitting stuff you are, you start at +1 Skills - Choose 3 Skills that you specialize in - this can be anything like Lockpicking, Dancing, Horseriding, or Interior Decorating. For a skill check roll a d20 - being trained in a skill gives +5 to rolls involving chosen skills. Abilities - Abilities are what you use when you attack your foes - usually have some sort of cool name like Double Sword Strike, Fireball, Triple Arrow, Poison Bite, etc. You start with 3 and may more through exploring. To use your abilities, roll a d20 + Accuracy - if you roll higher than your target’s Armor, you hit. Otherwise, you miss or hit a glancing blow. On a roll of 20, your attack succeeds spectacularly. Don’t worry too much about the damage numbers, I’m just winging it! Talent - You are a Talented individual - you possess echoes of the power wielded by the ancient heroes. Talents can vary widely - Teleportation, Summoning Storms, Stopping Time, creating huge infernos or even things like cutting through the most powerful armor are all Talents. Your control over your powers is fickle - if you attempt to use it, roll a d4. On a 1, it doesn't work. On a 4, it works perfectly. On a 2 or 3, roll again. You are only able to use it rarely, once a day or so - I’ll tell you when it recharges. NOTE: Each Talent only exists ONCE. Once a Talent is used by another character, it cannot be used again. Motto - Your battlecry or whatnot! AI Action - I want to see if I can update every day/as often as I can, and it can be a pain to have to wait for people - but have no fear! Just indicate what your character would be likely to do and I’ll try my best to emulate them - don’t worry, I won’t kill them (on purpose). Mystery - Also give me an Adjective, Proper Noun, Noun, Adverb, Job Title, Weapon and Animal, please!  UPDATEThere have been a few changes over the thread. New characters now ALSO get the following. New Topseekers - The Second Fall of the Tower has empowered all new entrants. You have FOUR points to distribute, like so.
I have a vague plan, but as the game progresses I’m pretty open to suggestions - if the audience has ideas for traps or monsters, feel free to PM me and I’ll toss em’ in in some of the higher floors. I'd like to get started Monday September 1st, but we'll see how many applicants we get! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:34 on May 27, 2015 |
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2014 17:44
|
|
|
Hall of Heroes Dedicated to those who decide to escape with their lives and treasure after braving the tower. Percy - Wave 1 | Talent: Animate the Inanimate Yielded from the tower upon discovering that the Concept Forge drew his wife`s memory of her love for him as an ingredient and he couldn`t go on. Treasure: Flight Pack Dormund - Wave 3 | Talent: Blight Might Couldn't hack it in the tower, fled. Treasure: Not dying. Ron Roenicke - Wave 3 | Talent: Bases-Loaded Pinch Hit Couldn't hack it in the tower, fled. Treasure: Not dying. Twinkledorf - Wave 4 | Talent: Humongous Fungus Abundance Wisely decided to flee with his unusual treasure. Treasure: Giant Goblin Skeleton Fingerbone Amo the Shy - Wave 4 | Talent: Just Rewards Was compelled to leave by Xyz'ck's mind control. Treasure: None Xyz'ck Mark II - Wave 4 | Talent: Subatomic Superposition- Fled with his tail between his legs after a disastrous skirmish with Adam. Treasure: Curse of the Maze (not a treasure!) Bofan - Wave 1 | Talent: Omnibrew Escaped with his prized treasure - the First Survivor to reach Floor 8! Treasure: Golden Hook Tikkiti - Wave 2 | Talent: Finders Keepers! Left with a big treasure to live like a king! Treasure: Giant Jewel Worth A LOT Giovanni - Wave 3 | Talent: Tesseract Driven to madness by ghostly demons, his skills sapped away, he fled the tower with his notes and returned home. Treasure: Some jewels and his memories! Whatever - Wave 5 | Talent: Drama Bomb Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: The Umbrarcanix Terminal Nexus Orthex/The Word - Wave 4 | Talent: Complete Obliteration Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Moon Serpent Scute Longwei - Wave 4 | Talent: Augment of Rebirth Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Haunt Book Skullzmaster - Wave 6 | Talent: Possession Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Robot Head-bot Croissantelle - Wave 6 | Talent: Sugar Coat It Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Spice-Resin Pendant Rum - Wave 6 | Talent: Rum of Remorse Fled the Tower during the second Culling with her buddy Mason. Still a famous hero! Treasure: StatPurg Mason - Wave 6 | Talent: Yokeling Fled the Tower during the second Culling with his buddy Rum. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Rides-At-Night Jormund - Wave 7 | Talent: Lycanthrope Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Gongsounder Inigo - Wave 7 | Talent: I am not Left Handed Fled the Tower during the second Culling. Still a famous hero! Treasure: Roscoe Valthax - Wave 1(!) | Talent: CannibalFled the Tower after being out-foxed during the second Culling. Valthax has joined up as a Commentator, narrating the events in the tower. He is the longest-surviving Topseeker of all time and - given his bonded Artifacts and his great magic - quite possibly one of the most powerful beings in the world. Treasure: Cuts-Through-Falsehood / Chain-Of-Survival / Angstoneware Dish[/i] -~~~- Field of Failures A rememberance for those who could not hack it in the tower and chose to stubbornly remain in the tower and die rather than to flee and live with their experience. They live(?) on in the Tower as Ghosts. Azura - Wave 1 | Talent: Super Speed Hit in the face by a stray pie, fell into boiling water. Fletch Capgras - Wave 2 | Talent: Mirror Match Was found wanting by the Fruit of Life and Death; got smashed and had his neck broken. Elliot - Wave 2 | Talent: Getting Lost Knocked unconscious by debris, fell to his smashy death. Badly wounded by impact with a basalt pillar in the Falling Room, he died from a too-hard hug by another Topseeker. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Character - Wave 1 | Talent: Crash Test Dummy Murdered by a Sphinx, failed his Talent roll which would have saved him. Was found wanting by the Fruit of Life and Death; got smashed and had his neck broken. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Bronan - Wave 2 | Talent: Barbaric Yawp Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Knock - Wave 5 | Talent: Hold It Right There Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Koko - Wave 2 | Talent: 800-Pound Gorilla Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Sevin Cazzuale - Wave 1 | Talent: Duel Challenge Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Matthieu - Wave 4 | Talent: Oh, I've Got One of Those Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Culling. Adam - Wave 4 | Talent: The Flesh is Best Murdered by Roscoe for killing his friend. Roscoe - Wave 2 | Talent: Make the Face that Makes Master Drop His Food Murdered by Nicodemus and Valthax for having too much good stuff. Tumor - Wave 4 | Talent: Absorption Murdered by Nicodemus for attempting to extort another Topseeker with a deadly Artifact. Killed and consumed by Tumor (wielding afortmentioned Artifact) while killing the latter for threatening to kill someone else. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Amusingly, died of overeating and exploded. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. Velma - Wave 7 | Talent: Involuntary Surgery Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Chauncey - Wave 4 | Talent: Rescue Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. ALighterPorpoise - Wave 5 | Talent: Losing Things Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever. [s]He-Who-Bakes - Wave 8 | Talent: If you wish to make an apple pie... Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Consumed all Haunts. Lost Forever.[/b] Goblins - Wave 8 | Talent: Life Finds a Way Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Murray - Wave 8 | Talent: Awe Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Byzantiel - Wave 6 | Talent: Mandate of Heaven Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Ivan - Wave 7 | Talent: Coach's Challenge Personally killed by the Lord of the Tower during The Second Culling. Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 20:05 on May 26, 2015 |
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2014 17:45
|
|
|
goodness posted:Name - Character Hmm, quite a bold choice! We'll see how that works out for you. Also, made a slight change to the Talent rule - each Talent only exists ONCE. Once a Talent is used by another character, it cannot be used again.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2014 19:22
|
|
|
OKAY obviously people are interested! We have 12 entrants right now, so I'm going to split it into waves of 7. So! HiHo ChiRho - Mr. Pat Miyagi Goodness - Character Obscil - Sevin Cazzuale Djw175 - Azura Grognan - Bofan Burmud Mike Gallego - Valthax Zybourne Clock - Percy K. Buckminster, esq. Get ready to rock. I'm going to try to get a post in tonight.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 30, 2014 01:07
|
|
|
DivineCoffeeBinge posted:Can those of us who aren't yet Topseekers advise, cheer on, and/or mock the current players? Sure can! You're in the audience until the next time the gate opens! I will assume that any advice they take from you is pulled from their own imaginations because once they're inside they cannot see or hear you! edit: Mike Gallego posted:The first floor better involve a people eating contest. No floors will involve this. You're a monster. Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 01:23 on Aug 30, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 30, 2014 01:18
|
|
|
Little Tom Mallory was getting restless. His father dragged him all the way to this tower, insisting all along that he’d love it. He’d admit it - the tower WAS pretty awesome. But all this waiting around and shouting and drinking and gambling and nothing was HAPPENING. He looked at the… contestants(?) with disdain - an old man, some old test golem, a lizardman, some woman, a different, shorter old man and… a pie? What a sham. Tom’s father told them that last week they’d had two great red dragons. They were killed horribly by the fifth floor, of course, but at least it had some romance to it. Then fanfare blared from every direction, and everything went quiet. All was silent save for the sound of the gate grinding open, when suddenly a voice drowned out his thoughts. “WHOSOEVER REACHES THE PINNACLE SHALL BECOME THE LORD OF THE TOWER AND OF THE FIRMAMENT AND OF ALL THE LIGHT TOUCHES” The voice pressed down from the heavens like an open palm, stunning the child into silence. The motley crew waiting patiently for the gate to open all of a sudden looked less like fools and more like… badasses. Something in the way they stood before the gate, the way they faced their deaths for glory, drew a cheer from him, one that reverberated through the crowd. “Go, Go, Go Topseekers!” ---  Passing through the gate, you find yourself - impossibly - in the centre of a circular field, flowers stretching to the horizon. In every direction, you see scattered stone pillars carved with strange symbols. You can somehow also see the tower in the distance. All around you, you can hear guttural chanting and the scrape of metal blades on the pillars. For a moment there is stillness… Then you are swarmed by dozens of goblins with spears. --- So now we get to the meat and potatoes of the game - your job here is to take these little gobbos out and get a feel for things. Use your Abilities, interact with your environment with your Skills, maaaybe break out your Talent - though keep in mind it’s got a long cooldown. Whatever you decide to do, post a blurb about what your action is and how you roll - you don’t need to use Orokos, but you can if you prefer it. I trust ya! quote:Good Nick the Wise blinds the nearest goblin with a dazzling spray of Colours! Side mystery job: Give me a Type of Weapon - fantasy style, no plasma rifles - and an Animal! edit: Oh also it's these guys up if you missed the post above. HiHo ChiRho - Mr. Pat Miyagi Goodness - Character Obscil - Sevin Cazzuale Djw175 - Azura Grognan - Bofan Burmud Mike Gallego - Valthax Zybourne Clock - Percy K. Buckminster, esq. Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:11 on Aug 30, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 30, 2014 03:03
|
|
|
Obscil posted:Rapier and snapping turtle. Nah you guys roll, I trust ya! edit: goodness posted:
Poor Character. At least his stats are a little better! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:15 on Aug 30, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 30, 2014 03:12
|
|
|
Sorry for the delay! Went to Fan Expo in Toronto today with my wife to get some inspiration - ended up learning I should not go to Fan Expo because people there are scary! Also I wrote some of this up on my phone and the Awful app lost it sooo I rewrote it! Better! --- “Alright folks, welcome to the four hundred and forty-eighth opening of the Gate! I hope you front-row ticketholders are ready for some carnage, because our aspiring Topseekers are up against Floor 1: The Mudgoblin Horde! Never fear, they can’t get out - may not even really exist - but they can sure as hell get to our contestants! Fun fact: Almost one sixth of all Topseekers have perished within the first two floors!”  “Obviously one of our contestants has done his studies - lizardman Sevin Cazzuale has taken stock of these goblins and barks out orders, giving his nearby allies a heads up (nice roll - +1 to Accuracy for alla’y’all this turn and next. Good thing too, or else lots of you would have missed!). He deftly avoids a goblin’s spear, skewering it with his rapier.” “Our resident test-golem Character does what he does best - punch! Ignoring several blows, he raises his fists and crushes a goblin - who promptly splatters into a pile of mud! (Character takes 3 damage and smushes a goblin but good.) “Though Azura looks slight, she’s got some power in them arms - she casually dodges and bats aside several spears, finally grabbing one attacker bodily with phantasmal arms and clubbing its allies to death. The flowers and the pillars around her are streaked with muddy fluid - she’s a real wrecking machine!” (Decent roll - and they’re just goblins, after all!) “Certainly one of our more exotic contestants, Valthax the… Pie Lord Karen I’m not saying that seems to be working some sort of peculiar magic! Whatever he’s doing, he should probably have gotten out of the way first - he’s getting eaten alive out there! There’s rhubarb filling everywhere! It’s really hard to tell whether that’s a bad thing or n- what’s this!? His spell has taken hold - the nearest dozen goblins vanish in a haze of steam, leaving behind three beautiful pies! Unorthodox!” (Valthax takes 7 damage, but creates 3 Apple Pies - each one is good for 5 HP - and there’s no max HP. Let’s say that you can eat one and attack the same turn but it’ll drop your Accuracy by 1, shall we?) “Pat Miyagi may look old and creepy, but he sure knows his way around a fight! He is absolutely surrounded by goblins but he weaves like a reed in a storm! Look at that: He just stole a goblin’s spear right out of his hand and laid him out flat with a sweep! This old-timer has got some moves! (You dodged 5 attacks, you pro you.) “Our Dwarvish representation looks a bit lost in there - his pack is a bit worse for the wear, with bottles spilling everywhere, but so far he’s not taken any seriou- Yikes, spoke too soon! A spear to the shoulder could be a run-ender. At least that seems to have lit a fire under him: the little guy is going crazy out there with a metal tankard, caving in some poor gobbo’s head. Mud everywhere.” (Bofur takes 6 damage.) “Our gentleman skeleton has just decapitated himself. Not the first suicide, but certainly the fa- oh, I spoke to soon, our magical consultants have informed me that Percy here was trying for some sort of Terror effect but whiffed it. Tough luck, boney! A thrown spear knocks the skull from his hands. Don’t lose your head in there! (Percy takes 4 damage.) --- At this point you’ve noticed something a little off about these goblins - they’re made of mud. Your weapons are covered with it, your clothes are covered with it, and you have a bit in your mouth. The second thing you notice is that they seem to keep coming - as a matter of fact, you see one coalcese out of the mud near one of your allies (?). One of the goblins looks a little different from the rest.  As you watch him, a bolt of green energy flies from the staff into a batch of flowers and out clambers an armed goblin. He spies you watching him, and he bolts! --- Same deal as last time! To answer Obscil - pick one Talent, Skill or Ability each turn, but you can definitely change your mind before I make my post if you decide against it - I'll just drop you in the action order.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 04:19
|
|
|
Obscil posted:I will chase after the different goblin and use my talent Duel challenge to force him to fight me. Roll: 4!! My talent works. Oh boy! HiHo ChiRho posted:
Oh, boy! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 14:56 on Aug 31, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 04:51
|
|
|
Obscil posted:By the way, one of my skills is dueling, so can I use my dueling skill as an attack during one of my duels? Or should I just use my dueling skill instead of my accuracy to roll for my abilities? Um, sure to either one I suppose! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 14:56 on Aug 31, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 05:04
|
|
|
HiHo ChiRho posted:Well technically I was just running after the dude before the duel was given. So I guess just have me flail around aimlessly since I miserably failed? I'll write something that makes sense, doncha fret! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 14:56 on Aug 31, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 05:10
|
|
|
Alllrighty lets nip this in the bud - thinkin' about it last night, you cannot add your Skills bonus to your Abilities. It'll throw the math outta whack! Skills aren't for direct attacks, they're more for indirect benefits. For example, Obscil, I'd say that your Dueling skill is more related to getting people to duel with you without your Talent as well as knowing the proper dueling protocol. With that in mind I propose the following changes: Zybourne Clock posted:
Grognan posted:
HiHo ChiRho posted:Pat Miyagi tries to use acrobatics to get out of the mudgoblins and go after Dear Leader! May as well get this stuff sorted out now and really set the distinctions between Talents, Skills and Abilities. This is a learning process (for me too cause I'm just makin' it up!)
|
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 14:55
|
|
|
djw175 posted:Wouldn't the superpower be better served as a coinflip to cut out the unneeded rolling? In the interest of secrecy I will just say nope!
|
|
#
¿
Aug 31, 2014 17:24
|
|
|
“Aha, it looks like they found the Mud Shaman! This sneaky little bugger is the key to this whole mess. If they don’t catch ‘im, it’s all ove- oh, what’s this?” --- Scott Daruul loved this poo poo. The blood and carnage of the first floor really got him all jazzed up, but he’d seen enough of these to know something was different this time. That lizardman, Sevin, had gotten a weird look in his eye - and the flower petals around him were blowing away as though he was emitting a gale.  Through the loudspeakers, his voice came amplified. “GOBLIN,” - the Shaman slammed to a stop, as though hitting a wall, and whirled to face him - “YOUR OPPONENT IS ME. RUNNING IS UNBECOMING.” The Shaman gestured wildly, trying to pull away, but try as they may no goblins could approach either opponent. Scott hollered along with his friends. Now it was getting good! (You got a lock! No one is interrupting this show. 4 Rounds until Talent recharges.) --- “Old Man Miyagi is in trouble! Whatever technique he was trying there blew up in his face when he slipped on that pile of mud (mudgoblin innards?) - he’s down on his back and taking fire! Looks like all the skill in the world can’t trump pure dumb luck!" (Yowza - you’re Prone and took 10 damage. Used up all your dodging last time!)  “Our other little man Bofan seems to be cooking something up - he’s weaving in between those pillars mixing up some sort of concoction with vials from his pack. Oh, he’s saying something - angling for sponsor dollars, is he? I always prefered Shmendrick’s Cleanful Cloud to Markoth’s but I cannot argue with the results! The mixture billows out in every direction, sending suds and sparkles and scrubbing bubbles in every direction, tearing through goblins like acid and cleaning up any stray mud piles in the area.” (B-b-b-b-bonus damage vs. mudgoblins) “That horrible little pie man Valthax is now - cannibalizing (?) the goblin (?) apple pies! Have you ever seen anything like it!? It’s sick! He’s put two whole pies in his sweet, sticky maw and he’s just chewing and swallowing - where is it GOING!? Thank the gods that goblins are chasing him away from his foul repast!" (Valthax gains 10 HP from eating 2 pies - remember you don’t have a Max HP - leaving 1 left over.) “Uncanny! Percy has picked up his skull, reattached it with a flourish, and now seems to be striding across the battlefield towards the wounded and beset Miyagi. Now he’s raising his finger - some sort of incantation? Karen get me audio Gods above, he’s lecturing them! And more to the point, it’s working! They’ve stopped their attack on Miyagi! And now they’re coming after him! His poor hat is in tatters!” (Your rolls aren’t so great! Percy takes 6 damage. Could have been much worse, though.) “Our sole female representation seems to be trying to draw out some sort of inner energy reserve - she’s got herself balanced precariously on one of the pillars, chanting - but given the unreproducible curse she just uttered it must not have worked. And the hesitation cost her a bleeding tear on her thigh - courtesy of a smelly gobbo. (Azura takes 3 damage. 4 Rounds until Talent recharges.) “And then there’s Character. He walked forward in a straight line, hit a pillar, turned right, walked straight, hit a pillar, turned right, saw a goblin, and kicked a muddy hole straight through his torso. Good boy, Character - is what I would be saying had he not been harassed by goblin spears the entire journey. (Character takes 7 damage. Good boy, Character.) Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:23 on Sep 3, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Sep 3, 2014 03:05
|
|
|
Mike Gallego posted:I am using my pastrymancy skill to try to thin out the goblins pursuing me, into more delicious, delicious pie. Skills are for non-combat usage - though monster death may occur as a side effect of said usage, as in the first time you used it. For straight up attacking, use Abilities.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 3, 2014 03:20
|
|
|
DivineCoffeeBinge posted:Also is it wrong that I already have an idea for my backup character when my current character - who hasn't even made it into the game yet! - gets horribly killed? Nah man - you can even swap which character you want to enter first. I just need to get started on actually killing fools.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 3, 2014 03:29
|
|
|
Obscil posted:I don't think so. My character is doing pretty well, and I've already thought up a backup character. Long story short - yes, sort of?
|
|
#
¿
Sep 3, 2014 03:32
|
|
|
goodness posted:Do we have +Accuracy or anything right now? Not this turn, no
|
|
#
¿
Sep 3, 2014 03:43
|
|
|
Those of you posting your HP/Defense/Name/Attack+Roll in your post, keep doing that! Those not doing that, start doing that. --- There’s a time in every dwarf’s life for running. Thus far, Bofan had not found it. Up till now, he hadn’t really found any real threat that couldn’t be solved by alcohol in one way or another. These mudgoblins were different - utterly mindless in their pursuit of flesh and blood, they couldn’t be bought off with a round. So Bofan picked his little legs up and ran, cursing his lack of practice all the while.  On the other hand, it turned out he was pretty good at it. Pretty drat good. “Try to catch me, you muddy bastards!” (Bofan takes no damage and grants an additional +1 to Defense to all allies this turn and next [except Sevin, because that would interfere] due to his distracting shenanigans) On the way past a confused-looking gobbo, Bofan manages to scoop a few samples of mud out of its very flesh. It howls and a pack of them take off after him. --- Sevin tightened his grip on his rapier and faced down his foe. He’d killed tougher men by far in his life, but he knew the tower was a different story. It had its tricks. The Shaman had stopped running - Sevin knew he could feel the magic between them like a taut sinew, pulling him in, but the goblin kept his distance as much as he could. He knew what was coming. Drawing on his reserves, Sevin closed the distance between them with a thunderclap, his blade leading the way...  And crashed into a wall of solidified mud drawn up from the earth in front of the shaman. Leaping back in surprise and pain, he sees the wall dissolve into clods of earth that streaked towards him like missiles. With lightning strikes he cuts them down, but is still pelted painfully with gravel and cobbles. But through the pain he smiles - the Shaman has his hand pressed to his neck, trying desperately to staunch a wound. (Sevin takes 12 damage, but the Shaman is close to death. 3 Rounds until Talent recharges.) --- Valthax felt nothing but contempt for these creatures. All of them, in fact, but none moreso than the foul goblins. Little more than earth are they, hardly suitable for my lordly palate. Drawing upon the power of his royal lineage, the Pie Lord conjured two further mud-apple pies from the mud and slop left behind by the creatures’ violent deaths. But consuming their blighted flesh - cleansed and purified by pastrymancy, of course - is they key to my ascendance. And only in climbing ever higher will I be able to sup on the flesh of the Lord of this tower… (Valthax makes 2 pies! Same rules as last time, +5HP each, eating them and attacking in the same turn gives you a -1 to Accuracy) --- Character was a test golem. He was used to taking hits. That didn’t mean he had to enjoy it. Throwing his bulk to the side, he rolled himself on the ground, crushing a score of goblins too slow (or distracted) to get out of the way. Now covered in warm mud, he lay down and looked at the sky, idly making mud angels among the corpses of his foes. (No damage on three attacks courtesy of bonus Defense from Bofan’s crit!) --- Pulling himself painfully to his feet, Pat Miyagi brushed himself off and looked towards Percy - intentionally or not, the dapper skeleton had probably saved his life. The least he could do was repay the favor. Skipping nimbly over the patches of slick, muddy grass, Miyagi made his way towards Percy, crept up behind an attacking goblin and...  Crushed his filthy head between two powerful hands. “Banzai, you beasts.” --- With the goblins good and distracted by the sneak attack (and the frantically running and cursing dwarf), Percy raises himself up to his full height filled with righteous indignation (his poor hat!) and unleashes a shriek that fills all goblins within range with fear. They freeze, terror-stricken - then dissolve into sand that blows away on the breeze. (Yay you hit!) They may not truly know the grave, but all beings fear their end. --- Azura falls off the pillar, unbalanced by the wound, and is set upon by goblins. Immediately, a demonic rage takes hold, and she throws the goblins off with spectral arms. Limping over to the rest of the group, Azura takes a deep breath and emits a blast of blue fire from a spectral demon’s maw. The fire crisps a few goblins to ash and starts a blazing fire in a patch of flowers - though wet and muddy as they are, the group is in little danger of the heat. (Azura takes 7 damage. 3 Rounds until Talent recharges.)
|
|
#
¿
Sep 4, 2014 17:59
|
|
|
Grognan posted:
Yer a wizard Bofan
|
|
#
¿
Sep 4, 2014 19:46
|
|
|
Obscil posted:Hot drat. Is that the first natural 20 of this game? That's not even HIS first 20 of the game!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 5, 2014 03:27
|
|
|
goodness posted:
There's still a couple more, but effectively they're toast and their summoner is currently occupado
|
|
#
¿
Sep 5, 2014 14:25
|
|
|
“No one can deny this has been an exciting round so far! Nobody’s died yet - not a first but still rare! I’m sure all of you remember that round three days ago when everyone croaked within the first ten minutes; seven trained soldiers, used to working in a team, went down to the Mudgoblins because they couldn’t deal with the numbers. Luckily, this round, someone has stepped up and put himself on the line to take out the boss, safety be damned!” “The lizardman and the goblin are locked in a brutal fight, both well aware that this only ends when someone goes down. The Shaman is desperately flinging walls and spikes and tendrils of mud at Sevin, who for his part is slashing them apart before they touch him. One of them is going to get tired…” “The rest are gathered in a tight formation, backlit by a spreading - and very dramatic looking - brush fire. The few dozen remaining mudgoblins are having a tough time coping with the heat, their skin flaking off in great chunks as it dries out. Capitalizing on their uncertainty, Bofan has mixed up some sort of concoction in one of his vials and whipped it onto the fire! Whatever that was, there is smoke everywhere! The goblins are blind and terrified! (-1 to Accuracy for the goblins for this round and next)”  “As if that wasn’t enough, here comes Percy striding through the smoke, lunging with his sword cane and piercing a goblin through its muddy skull. Seen dimly through the smoke, underlit by the blazing fire, I can only imagine he looks look the very spectre of death! Whatever small light of awareness these goblins have has surely called them to fear, because all of them are running as far away as they can get!”  “The goblins now scattered, the bedraggled group turns to trying to salve their wounds. By the sounds of it, our test golem and Pat Miyagi are trying to barter with that pastry-demon Valthax for some of his ghoulish pies. Seemingly annoyed by the selfishness and pettiness of the latter, Miyagi has moved to the edge of the smoke cloud, taking cover behind a stone pillar. Any goblin coming nearby is in for a sur- never mind that, here’s the main show!” “Unbelievable! Sevin has managed to close the distance and slashed out the Shaman’s throat! It’s all over! Battered and bruised, the lizardman raises his arms in victory! The crowd is going wild - not that he can hear or see them.” (Sevin woo you killed him and didn’t die - you did take 3 damage, however!) --- With the Shaman’s death, many things happen all at once. A bright light flashes once from the top of the tower in the distance, and almost instantaneously a blast of wind nearly pushes you over. All goblins still alive shriek and collapse into mud, both the smokescreen and the fire vanish, and the Shaman explodes, showering Sevin and the surrounding area in mud and gore. The Shaman’s staff remains, and falls to the ground atop his mangled corpse, glowing dimly. His skull is launched several metres, rolling to lie - glowing - among the daisies. With an audible crack, a doorway splits in the space between two of the stone pillars. Through the door, you can see a rippling pool full of bones. What could possibly be next!? --- Floor 1 down - I'll give you a round to decide what you want to do before you enter the next floor, but we're pressing right on. The Staff and the Skull are up for the taking - if you want it, post indicating so and give me a d100 for either (or both) items. No limit on how many items you can have next, but you can't trade - if someone's got something you want, you'll have to take it from them. Don't forget you can bail from the tower if it's getting too hot for ya! People waiting to get in - after this next floor, the gate will open again to let the next wave in. I'll give you guys a heads up again later.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 5, 2014 20:24
|
|
|
Green Intern posted:Congratulations to wave 1 for not dying! Now hurry up and die so wave 2 can start sooner! Non-in-tower-Topseekers should feel free to post what their fellas are doing in the stands while watching the others. After all, as Topseeker hopefuls you have a place of honour in the crowd. And free snacks!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 5, 2014 20:31
|
|
|
This was Adelaide’s favorite part. The first floor was clear, but the Topseekers didn’t know what was coming next. So exciting! She was here with her two children, who were getting a bit restless now that the action had died down. Just where WAS Alan with the refreshments, anyhow? Whatever, stuff was happening - that hunky lizardman just picked up the Shaman’s polished wooden staff. If she remembered her last visit correctly, using it would give him power to control mud and filth and create goblin constructs. Being goblin-made and crappy, it would work a handful of times, but many Topseekers had made surprising use of it in the past. (5 charges, can be used in addition to a normal action at no cost) She was sure he’d do alright with it - he made short work of the Shaman, that’s for sure! On the other hand, he sure didn’t look like he knew first aid… (still heal 3 HP - better than a poke in the eye. Also, 1 Round till Talent recharges) --- Meanwhile, Alan was stretching his legs, taking a long while getting snacks. His wife had dragged him to this carnival of blood, and honestly it was making him a little queasy. He couldn’t imagine the sort of people that watching this appealed to, let along entering the tower itself. Speaking of which, his moseying had taken him near the cordoned off Topseeker viewing area - what a group! Several appeared to be baseline human, though one was impossibly muscular (and obnoxious), but there were also a variety of animals and… a stick figure? The sight of him was too much and Alan had to wheel on his heel and walk away before he was ill. --- “There you are, Alan, the kids were fretting so! Why do you look so green?” Doling out the treats, Alan sat wearily in his seat. “Never mind that - what’d I miss?” He didn’t care much, but she was visibly excited. “Oh Alan, it was so funny! That little Dwarven chap and the… pie… were having some sort of discussion that ended up coming to naught (4 Rounds till Talent recharges), and when the first guy went to get the Skull one of the other Topseekers came out of NOWHERE and nicked it!” “Oh, cool, cool - what does the Skull do again?” She lightly slapped his knee, “Oh, come now, dear, I told you a moment ago - it grants the wielder ‘passive regeneration’, but he takes more damage from hits. Kind of a tradeoff thing.” (More specifically, you regenerate 2 HP a round, but take 2 additional damage when you get hit) --- Character was perfectly content sitting in the mud, but the rest of the group were gathered around a strange, rippling doorway. He hauled himself to his feet and stomped over. He saw Sevin walk through and vanish, followed by Azura and Percy. Heedless, he walked up to the gate and stepped through. -~~~~~~~~- For a moment, there was a strong sense of disjunction. One moment he was walking straight forward, the next he was underwater, and what he could thought was DOWN was actually wrong by 90 degrees. Struggling to his feet, he took stock of what he could perceive in the dim light.  Water, stone and bones. Many bones. Many, many bones. He was standing in waist deep water - chest deep for most constestants - surrounding by floating corpses in various states of decomposition, surrounded on all sides by tall stone walls. He craned his neck upwards, following the line of the wall and saw that it extended a good thirty metres or more straight up. He saw the starry sky above, the full moon hanging directly over the mouth of the well like a swollen fruit, and felt a strong urge to ascend. A well. They were in a well. The water felt a little warmer than earlier. --- And with that folks, all the Topseekers are on the next floor - Floor 2: The Well of Bones! Place your bets, folks! Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 20:31 on Sep 8, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Sep 7, 2014 07:55
|
|
|
Obscil posted:Can I use the staff even though I can't see any mud here? Yep, there's mud in the water, on the walls, and on the bones and assorted other armor, weapons and gear of the floating bodies surrounding you! edit: Grognan posted:"Oi, if you want to use that staff I got some mud for ya" Man, you're quite athletic for a untrained Dwarf!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 8, 2014 20:28
|
|
|
EDIT: Added damage and stuff. --- Immediately sussing out the situation, Sevin attempts to climb the wall, trying the jam his claws into the gaps in the mortared stones. He makes it up several metres until a loose stone sends him tumbling back into the water, smashing through a pile of bones. (Takes 3 Damage) Brushing gore and slime off himself, he tries another tack - with an awkward wave of the ex-Shaman’s staff, Sevin manages to conjure a rough platform out of the muck and murk clinging to the walls. As he clambers up, he manages to catch his breath but notes that the platform doesn’t look like it’s going to hold itself together for too long… (Also, Talent Recharged.) --- Percy brushes himself off (have to stay respectable looking after all - there IS an audience out there) and takes a closer look at the bodies. While most are humanoid, clearly not all are human - a glimpse of horns and fangs on one of the bodies is enough to tell him that. A lot of them seemed to be geared up for exploration - lots of it was damaged, but many were still kitted out with rope, weapons, and other nameless things. Past Topseekers or remainder of the initial surveying team? Well, you never know until you ask, right? Taking a moment to centre himself (and ignoring the steadily-warming water around him), Percy shifted his awareness to the realm of the dead and called out to whoever may hear. Immediately, he perceived the astral figures of the long dead stir to wakefulness, all clamoring to be heard by the living (or undead, at least). Shutting out the weak presences of the fragmented ghosts, he focused instead on the body before him - a ragged skeleton still garbed in tatters of the Royal Surveying team livery. Creaking to half-life, the skeleton rattled out words that Percy alone could hear: “He… didn’t want us to go any... further… the tower is a... cage for avarice… this well… is a cauldron… you are all… lobsters.” The skeleton cocked its head slightly, breaking off its decaying jaw, but still the words tumbled out: “Soon… you will join… our vigil.” --- Pat Miyagi had had enough of this - even with the glowing goblin skull tied to his belt loop feeding him lifeforce, he was sore and shattered, feeling worse than he had ever felt. And this was the second floor. This water wasn’t helping matters either - it was definitely warmer than the tepid mess he had fallen into a moment ago, but it chilled him to the bone. He gazed up at the height of the well and sighed, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Hauling himself onto the mud platform, Miyagi psyched himself up. Haven’t done this in years, but I have to get up there somehow. He took a great leap at the wall across from him, planted his feet on the stonework, and launched himself off… but slipped on the slimy wall, and tumbled down, landing on Azura and inhaling a mouthful of brackish water. (Take 5 damage. Regenerate 2 HP.) --- Bofan coughed and sputtered at the great splash, then took a swig from one of his many flasks to get the taste of muck out of his mouth. He ran his gloved hand over the stonework of the well. While he certainly was no pro at masonry, there’s something in the dwarfish spirit that just understands the stone. For instance, if he passed this way, and avoided that patch of slime, and tied off just so… Pulling two mattocks out of his bulging pack (and snagging a gross length of rope looped around some poor dead fool), Bofan began slowly but surely climbing up the wall. 3 metres down, thirty-ish more to go… (Why are you so good at rolling. 3 Rounds till Talent recharges.) --- Character didn’t like being wet. It didn’t hurt or inconvenience him in any way, but he would prefer that it wasn’t the case. Pushing blindly through the corpses, he made his way to the wall. He slammed his fingertips in, feeling the stone indent beneath his blows, and started climbing. Soon he was out of the water. That was good, but he would also prefer to not be in this well. So he kept climbing. --- Valthax did not find this situation ideal. Not at all. His crust was sogging at the edges, his beautiful visage had been smeared with grime - why, some of it had probably gotten into his filling! This wouldn’t do! Luckily, that poncy lizardman had created a safe platform. He climbed up onto it and contemplated his options. He still had some pie to barter with, but he kept those close, just in case he required them for his own use. What luck! The oafish golem seemed to be making progress out of here. “Ho there, golem! You will be richly rewarded if you convey me to the top!” --- Character didn’t care much for rewards. All he wanted was to get to the top. It is why he was created, after all. That being said, the talking pie was on the way. He scooped him up and placed him atop his broad, flat head. --- Azura shoved the old man off of her and took a deep breath of air - the impact had driven her under water and knocked the wind out of her. Coughing frantically and leaning against the wall, she tried to centre herself. Meanwhile, the demon raged at such treatment and demanded to be allowed to vent its frustration on the old fool who had collided with them - and she had half a mind to allow it. Instead, she launched herself at the wall, her demon’s claws clutching at the stone, and pulled herself up and out of the water. (Take 7 Damage. Talent Recharged.) --- Alright, you (some of you) are on your way up. Don't be afraid to help (or hinder) eachother - only one can get to the top of the tower, but teamwork can help you get to the threshold. Also if you're feeling stuck, the bodies may hold some gear that may help you out here (or not help here but help later, if ya know what I mean)! Finally, if you've had enough and you don't want to die, you can always bail. Good luck. Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 18:32 on Sep 15, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Sep 11, 2014 22:28
|
|
|
HiHo ChiRho posted:"If at first you don't succeed, try try again!" Trying acrobatics and, maybe jump again Just to be clear, you can only use one Skill at a time (it'll mess my math up a bit otherwise/then you could stack the +5 bonus a bunch of times if you get creative) - feel free to reroll if that messes your plans up too much!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 12, 2014 02:03
|
|
|
Are you a wizard
|
|
#
¿
Sep 12, 2014 04:09
|
|
|
“With the Seekers up on the second level, the first floor seats are missing out on the action! Our scrying fields will give you a glimpse on the higher floors, but don’t fret, more contestants will be entering soon! The door will open in a matter of minutes! Until then, keep your eyes on the screens!” “At this point, our heroes have discovered that something is off about this well - besides all the corpses, of course! The water is heating up, slowly but surely, and it won’t be long before it’s too hot to stand! Seems like old man Miyagi is sick of being wet, so he tries his jumping trick again. Doesn’t he remember what happened la- By Gods, did you see that? He just jumped from wall to wall like a determined grasshopper! It looks like he’s stopped for a break in a little alcove, but he’s already a good 6 metres off the ground. He’d better not fall from this height - he looks FRAGILE!” (Regenerate 2 HP) --- “Meanwhile, our erstwhile frontrunner Sevin is looking a little frantic up on his little mud platform - scanning through the corpses for anything useful, he manages to find several pouches of gold and jewels. Worth a fortune on the outside! He just has to get them there first, and that means getting out of this well! That platform isn’t going to hold him forever!” “Luckily for him, the surprisingly spry Bofan can see better from his position up on the wall (2 Rounds till Talent recharges)- he indicates something interesting from his vantage point. For those first-timers out there, it’s important to know that the contents of the well seem to be random each time - or at least that’s how it looks from out here! Several times, the well has been empty - THAT wasn’t a pretty ending for those hopefuls that couldn’t get out on their own! Not so this time, in any case! ---    Rooting through the muck and the corpses where Bofan indicated, Sevin managed to haul up some unusual treasure, all tangled together with some unspeakable adhesive. After quickly rinsing it in the now torso-deep water, he discovered that he he had found some sort of golden Grappling Hook (and a length of rope), a Smoky Potion, and a Magnifying Glass. Gathering the lot of it into his arms, he vaulted back onto the crumbling mud platform and tossed the Hook to Bofan. (Bofan, you can hook it to the wall, take it higher, or even cut the rope if you want. It's an Artifact, and its yours.) Gazing at the artifacts he found, he wondered whether to share them with his otherwise occupied allies - technically, he had shared something he found with Bofan already! (Sevin, you get first crack at the items - if you don't want em', people roll as necessary. Using one of them will take an action given the stressful situation currently.) --- “Our friendly necromancer, after seemingly communing with the vanquished dead, is keen to be out of the well! I assume from the scribbles he’s making with his cane on the mud platform he’s trying to perform some sort of witchery, but this doesn’t seem to be working out as well as his last trick! Such a shame!” (I never in a million years thought you would try something like that, and I probably would have let you do it, too! Dang!) --- “And now back to the surprise teamup of the round, Valthax and Character! Character is steadily making his way up the wall - as well he should, considering our best magineers built him to do so - and Valthax is still hitching a ride! Oh, what’s this? For a moment there, you could see the Pie Lord’s delectable innards glow with an eldritch light, then all of a sudden these… croissant handhold sprung from the wall! They look delicious, but will they hold the golem’s mass? Oh gods, it looks like they won’t! Valthax is airbone… that’s quite a dr- AND CHARACTER HAS SNAGGED HIM! Saved by the half-witted reflexes of a golem! Looks like he grabbed him a bit too hard, though! (Valthax takes 5 Damage but doesn’t fall to his death!) --- “Azura is in trouble! She’s alone down there, and that impact from Miyagi almost took her out right there! Some people just aren’t cut out for the tower - but she’s not giving up! She’s still climbing up! Good timing too, because that water’s going to get REALLY hot very soon! Percy and Sevin better get up there, or else they’re soup!” Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 21:22 on Sep 15, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Sep 15, 2014 21:09
|
|
|
Zybourne Clock posted:
You can climb that as a free action. Do something else!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 15, 2014 22:24
|
|
|
“Things are really heating up! After rummaging through the corpses of their predecessors, the Topseekers have discovered a means of getting to the top faster! That Golden Hook was found in a few of the past tries - it gives the user unparalled climbing ability! (+5, to be precise) Bofan is already making good use of it climbing the wall, hooking his way up to higher alcoves, and tying the rope off so others can climb. (1 Round until Talent recharges)” “For his part, Sevin is climbing up the rope Bofan has dropped down, also taking advantage of the Hook’s magic. Both the Smoky Potion and the Glass are clattering around in his pack, but he’s only Claimed the Potion. I don’t know that we’ve ever had that happen, but I guess he figured no sense leaving good Artifacts behind, right?” (Teamwoooork. Also Sevin you’re carrying the Magnifying Glass until someone claims it. Also if you die it’s lost. Have fun!) “Mr. Dapper Bones is still on the crumbling mud platform, trying again to speak to the dead. Whatever he’s doing, he has to do it fast - the water is already beginning to bubble. The heat must be unbearable! --- Percy tried as best he could to centre himself. No expert in climbing or physical exertion, he knew the only way he was getting out of here was by trying something crazy. The bodies. The bodies were the key - already blind searching had turned up some treasures, so logically this should work even better, right? He certainly hoped so. Shifting his awareness to the astral realm, he called out: "Alright, fellows. You've all had your chance and you blew it. Now please help out a skeleton in need. If you've got anything on your corpse that makes it easier to get out of this well, I'd like to hear from you!" For a moment, nothing happened, and Percy was sure that it had failed. Suddenly there was a susurration of voices from all around him and he felt a pressure build in his skull, threatening to crack it from the inside. Then an arm thrust its way out of the bubbling water, and it all stopped.  Clutched in the arm was a strange pack. Hard to argue with that in terms of omens. Now, the question was would he brave the water and test his luck on the Artifact? Or had the time come to give up and try climbing the dangling rope? He knew he had only moments - the mud platform had crumbled away almost to nothing, and soon enough he’d be dumped into the water one way or another… (The well is pretty wide, which I don’t think I actually wrote anywhere - 5m in diametre, say. The Pack is 3m or so from you.) --- “Miyagi has been a loner in this competition since the beginning, but he seems to be doing well for himself! With no help from anyone else, he’s halfway up the wall and climbing. While we can’t hear him, folks, our Royal Lipreaders tell us that he is chanting to himself, most likely to maintain his energy as he tries to keep that frantic pace. It is an unusual chant, though one with obvious effects - he appears to be repeating “You’re the Best Around!”. The power of positive thinking!” (Nothing’s ever gonna keep you down. Regenerate 2 HP) “Meanwhile, our pastry friend is still hitching a ride on Character, who is steadfastly climbing and nearly ten metres from the lip of the well. Obviously feeling worried about his health, Valthax tries to gobble down both pies in his possession - but he has fumbled one, and down it goes! What a waste!” (+5 HP to Valthax, and -2 Pies!) --- Azura’s world drifted in and out of focus as she forced herself upwards. The demon within her would not let her rest until she summitted this wall, so she forced bloodied fingertips into the seams between the stones and kept going. When the pie hit her in the face, she had a moment of clarity as the demon fled her body and she fell. Her last thought was 'so sweet...' --- “Oh NO! Azura has fallen to her grisly death! I recommend that those among you who are squeamish… leave and give your seats to the true fans! Debt collectors will be around shortly to round up those who bet for her. Better luck next time! But really, who cares about that? All anyone can talk about is the gate - it’s opening again! It’s time for our next batch of Topseekers to enter!” “Remember, the tower only completely resets when everyone in it is dead, and given that (almost) all of the first batch are still alive, the next entrants can take advantage of their work. While the challenges will reset, anything the first group leaves behind to help or hinder those who follow will remain! Alright, hush now, it’s starting!” --- “WHOSOEVER REACHES THE PINNACLE SHALL BECOME THE LORD OF THE TOWER AND OF THE FIRMAMENT AND OF ALL THE LIGHT TOUCHES” (OKAY, next 7 are up! The next 7 people who post that they want to go in will get their chance!) Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 20:00 on Sep 19, 2014 |
|
#
¿
Sep 19, 2014 19:53
|
|
|
Zybourne Clock posted:
nah just knowing that you're voluntarily jumping into boiling water to get it is enough!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 19, 2014 22:06
|
|
|
DivineCoffeeBinge posted:Dude's a skeleton, he oughta be okay about boiling water! Pff you fool it'll melt the flesh right off his oh daaaamn
|
|
#
¿
Sep 19, 2014 22:14
|
|
|
Alrighty that's 7! You can keep submitting character sheets but you'll have to wait! To recap, that's: Roscoe the Dog Bronan the Brobarian Elliot the Tourist Sharperer Joe the Stick-Man Fletch Capgras the Doppelganger Xyz'ck the Mistake of Science and Koko the Gorilla
|
|
#
¿
Sep 20, 2014 01:40
|
|
|
“Well, something weird just happened down there. Percy just chanted something (who knows what - the Royal Lipreaders can’t tell since he has no lips!) and some poor soul’s arm just thrust something out of the water. Doesn’t really matter - unless Mr. Skeleton thinks he can swim through boiling water, he can’t ge- High heavens, he’s going for it!” --- Whatever it was, Percy had to have it. He’d gone through life - and unlife - with verve and determination, and he wasn’t about to stop now. He leapt out, towards the outstretched arm, hoping to make up some of the distance before landing in the water. Down he dropped… And found his landing foot cradled by a bony grip. Before him, a path of hands (and feet) extended out of the water, laying out grisly stepping stones towards his prize. With a relieved laugh, he nimbly leapt from one hand to another, his ersatz platforms crumbling beneath his weight.  “You alone… have tried… to speak with us. We, the dead… wish you luck.” --- “I’ve never seen anything like that! Look at him go! We’ll catch up on him later, because the others are nearing the top. Character and Valthax are still making their way up - their less a partnership than a rider and steed, but it seems to be working out for both - at this rate, both of them will be up in mere moments. The rim of the well is just about within reach - as long as they stay focused, they’ll reach it in record time. Taking advantage of his relative safety, Valthax is working his magic again, converting moss and muck into pies. Heavens only know how those must taste. (2 Pies!) --- After what seemed like an eternity, Percy reached the pack and put it on. He felt some sort of magic take hold, but nothing happened. poo poo! The limb beneath him gave way, and down he fell. --- “Meanwhile, Bofan and Sevin are steadily catching up to the leaders, the magic of the Golden Hook clearly boosting their prowess - according to their bios, neither contestant has any prior climbing experience, but they look like this is beyond easy for them. Unless they screw up someplace, they’ll summit shortly after the golem. (Man that +5 is clowning this climb hardcore) “Miyagi is burning up the wall too, and with no magical assistance. He keeps singing to that skull, but our Court Mages insist that the Skull has no properties that should affect his skills. That’s all him, folks! At that pace, he’ll overtake Bofan and Sevin and summit after the other two. Pat’s built up quite a fanbase here on the outside - I think people are just galvanized to know that a regular baseline human can hack it in the tower! Go, old man, go!” --- As Percy’s foot touched the water and he winced in pain, all he could think was how much he wanted out - it couldn’t end here, like this! With a click, the pack snapped open like beetle elytra, revealing two glassy wings, which immediately set to buzzing motion. Almost before he realized what was happening, he was rocketing up and out of the well, shooting past Bofan and Sevin and making for the top of the well! The buzzing wings set his teeth chattering painfully, but he couldn’t help pulling a bony grin. (1 damage from boiling water  . 1 charge used of 3, can be used in addition to a normal action at no cost)-~~~- Passing through the gate, you find yourself - impossibly - in the centre of a circular field, flowers stretching to the horizon. In every direction, you see scattered stone pillars carved with strange symbols. You can somehow also see the tower in the distance. The flowers are completely covered in mud, and a liberal amount of blood is spattered all over. Several pillars appear to have been freshly knocked over, and overall it’s obvious a pitched battle has just taken place. All around you, you can hear guttural chanting and the scrape of metal blades on the pillars. For a moment there is stillness… Then you are swarmed by dozens of goblins with spears. Here we go again.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 21, 2014 02:22
|
|
|
“Alright fans, it’s time for me to go - I’ve been hosting this for the last 9 hours, after all! A man needs his beauty sleep! But never fret, we have two excellent hosts filling in for: from the frigid lands of Fraïs, the lovely and venerable Milfred Winterbottom! And her co-host - and this is a special treat - the great Wyrm Falls-From-A-Cloudy-Sky!” “It’s just an honor to be here, Tower Keeper! It’s a far sight more exciting than I’d ever imagined it! I hope to do the position great justice!” “Many welcomes, Tower Keeper. This Wyrm has not been in the presence of the Great Tower since he shamefully fled from its sixth-most floor after he woefully lost his allies and clutch-mates to the fifth-most. The Tower is fearsome, yes.” --- “Alright, Cloudy, let’s get right to it! Right away I can see that this is quite an event! We’ve got thirteen Topseekers active right now - not a record, but getting there - with only one fatality! Good going, guys! Let’s check in on the first group, shall we?” “The Well of Bones tends to split the group up, with everyone out for themselves, but these Topseekers have done well not to panic. The lizardman, Sevin, and the dwarf, Bofan, are working together and making short work of the tower. Sevin in particular is climbing very we- Oh Heavens! Bofan has fallen! He’s dangling from one foot, Golden Hook tangled around the ankle, and it’s all Sevin can do to keep himself on the wall! I can’t bear to look - but I must! Oh, would you look at that - Sevin’s got him! They lost some height, but both of them are back on the wall! Tough to keep climbing after a tumble like that, but soon enough it won’t matter, will it?” (Yikes, that could have gone better - but on the other hand, with an unluckier roll on my end Bofan would have been soup stock!) “My goodness, this IS a day for stumbles, isn’t it - that handsome chap Miyagi must have lost his grip, down he go- Oh, WOW! Look at them go! The skeleton just caught him, and they’re making way for the top! Such gallantry leads an old lady to swoon, sir skeleton!” (Very thoughtful of Percy to burn a charge to save you! Percy, down to 1 charge of 3. Miyagi, you took some damage in the fall, but with your regen let’s just call it even!)  “Last (and first) but not least, that simple golem and the Pie Lord. I was courted by a Pastry-kind, once, you know - Burcu the Baklava. So coarse and unrefined, but so sweet! Far more proper than this Valthax chap, anyhow - look at him ride that golem like a wee lord while his compatriots struggle below. They’re about to reach the lip of the well now: things are going to get interesting… --- Valthax breathed a sigh of relief as Character reached his arm over the lip of the well, anchoring them to flat, solid ground. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the tower still looming over them in the distance. How can we see the tower if we’re inside the tower? For that matter, wasn’t it visible on the last floor too? How do these floors work, anyhow? All these questions and more were blasted out of his mind as Character took his first step onto solid ground and the well turned inside out. -~~~- “For those of you witnessing the rupture of the Great Gate for the first-most time I welcome thee to the Four Hundred and Forty-Ninth such event. For those of you remaining you have familiarity with the events unfolding before you - the Shaman, it hides in the stones, and all the rest are but illusion. Shadows with blades that pierce for true. The Seekers of the Peak are aware of such things, witnessing as they have the prior rupture of the Gate and subsequent melee. The advantage this grants them is unparalleled.” (Well, it’s at least decent if not unparalled - Second Wave people, gain +1 Bonus to all rolls to any floor completed so far) “The tactics on display already in the field are varied, and I will describe them as my fancy takes me. The Ape and the Lesser Wolf have formed a fast alliance, owing no doubt to their sub-standard intellect and body hair - though one can see the effectiveness by which they dispatch their foes. Already destabilized by the Ape’s intimidating countenance, the panicked goblins are short work for the Lesser Wolf’s sonic magic. This is pleasing!” (Teamwoooork. No damage.) “The Creature known as Xyz’ck does not waste its time on trivial shadows and leaps for where it knows the Shaman to be. Screeching like tearing metal, it bounds upon the Shaman, scoring a surprise hit to its midriff before being cast away by a summoned earthen fist. (Xyz takes 3 damage, but scored a damaging hit) The Shaman struggles to its feet and attempts to run from the foul creation, but its gore-sodden robe is proof of its injury.” “The ill-begotten human known as ‘Elliot’ stumbles over his own foolish feet and crashes to the ground to be set upon by the illusions (5 damage). Such is what is due for those like he. By contrast, this Bronan must be a demi-god, such is his prowess. He wades through the goblins like so much wheat, laughing as he goes! This is pleasing to me! Pausing only to help the lesser-man Elliot to his feet, Bronan splatters a goblin like a tree through a rabbit. Good show sir Bronan!” “Sharperer Joe is difficult to describe. I mean that in a literal sense, my keen hunter’s eyes balk at percieving his frame. His every movement makes me ill, and it appears that the goblins feel the same - they keep their distance, stabbing at him with spears that never seem to make contact. O-ho! The stick-man has made his move - with a lunge quick as lightning, his infinitessimal fist has pierced a goblin through the heart. As it collapses into mud, not a speck of it sticks to him - and his smile never flickers!” “But wait - where is the changeling? In the fury of combat I have lost him. No matter - the Shaman has retreated to marshal his troops. He signals for a group to attack Xyz’ck, and off they g- Oh! I have found the changeling. In the instant of the Shaman’s panic, Fletch must have made his way closer disguised as one such beast. The Shaman never anticipated the spear of bone as it tore through his arm! Ha ha! Clever beasts, these Seekers, one and all!” (He's badly wounded, but not out of commission yet!) -~~~- All at once, Valthax was here again. But where was here? Whatever their state before, the other Topseekers in his Wave stood beside him, catching their breaths as they took in the scene.  A single massive tree lay before them in the centre of a field, sunset rays lighting it from behind. Though the field extended in every direction, even trying to look away from the tree inevitably lend the eye back towards it. So the tree was the puzzle, then. The Tower stood in the distance, looming impossibly large.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 22, 2014 19:43
|
|
|
Obscil posted:
You may want to reread that a bit!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 22, 2014 22:52
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 29, 2024 05:36 |
|
|
goodness posted:[Ill post tomorrow at 12:30 central, in 13:23 hours Excellent, I'll post the update after work tonight then
|
|
#
¿
Sep 24, 2014 13:45
|
|